West Nebraska Blood Center Encourages Whole Blood and Platelet Donations

SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb., ― West Nebraska Blood Center is encouraging those who wish to help the region’s trauma, surgery, and obstetrical patients to consider whole blood and platelet donation.

Last year, Regional West Medical Center’s trauma team moved to carrying type O whole blood on air ambulances for trauma patients. Instead of transfusing only packed red blood cells, the program now transfuses whole blood, which includes red blood cells, platelets, and plasma. Though using packed red blood cells has saved lives, research has shown the benefits of transfusing whole blood instead, including potentially decreasing both morbidity and mortality in trauma patients.

The program is expanding to offer whole blood to other blood loss patients, including surgical and obstetrical patients. Previously, whole blood donation was restricted to the male population. Now, eligibility requirements have changed, and women are allowed to donate, creating the opportunity for a larger donor pool.

To donate whole blood, donors must be 17 years of age or older, have type O+ blood and low titers, or concentrations of antibodies in the blood, weigh more than 115 lbs., and must be aspirin-free for 48 hours before donation. Additionally, women must be Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) negative. West Nebraska Blood Center tests donors for both titers and HLA.

On average, whole blood donation takes about 30 minutes from start to finish.

Donors can also donate platelets, which are cells in blood that help form blood clots and stop bleeding. Platelet donation benefits many patients, including those fighting cancer, patients experiencing trauma or blood loss, and patients undergoing an organ transplant. To donate platelets, donors must be 17 years of age or older, weigh at least 120 lbs., and ideally have good veins and a high platelet count. Women must also be HLA negative. West Nebraska Blood Center tests platelet donors for both HLA and platelet count.

Platelet donation takes approximately two hours, and appointments are required.

Both whole blood and platelet donations at West Nebraska Blood Center stay local, helping donors’ friends, family, and neighbors when they are most in need. Randall Williams, MD, FASCP, a pathologist and Regional West Medical Center laboratory director, says that every donation is an opportunity to save a life.

“When you give blood, you are giving a part of yourself that can save a life,” he said. “If you think about it, how many opportunities does someone get to save another person’s life?”

To schedule a donation appointment, call West Nebraska Blood Center at 308-630-2477, or text 308-637-2337. To learn more about our services, visit RWHS.org, go to ‘Ways to Give,’ and click on ‘Blood Donation.’

About Regional West

Regional West Health Services in Scottsbluff, Nebraska is the parent company of Regional West Medical Center, a regional referral center and the only Level II Trauma Center in Nebraska west of Kearney. Since 1924, Regional West has served the people of western Nebraska and the neighboring states of Colorado, South Dakota, and Wyoming through innovative healthcare services. As the region’s sole tertiary medical center, Regional West offers an expansive array of medical specialties and numerous physician clinics.